Chrysanthemum plant named Donos

ABSTRACT

A Chrysanthemum plant named Donos particularly characterized by its flat capitulum form; anemone capitulum type; yellow-orange ray floret color; good color retention under high light conditions; diameter across face of capitulum of up to 7 cm at maturity when grown as a pinched spray pot mum with diameter of anemone cushion of 3 to 3.5 cm; uniform eight week photoperiodic flowering response to short days; medium plant height when grown as a pinched pot mum, and spreading and prolific branching pattern.

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar ofChrysanthemum, botanically known as Chrysanthemum morifolium, andreferred to by the cultivar name Donos.

Donos, identified as 79U32012, was originated from a cross made by me ina controlled breeding program in Salinas, Calif., in 1979.

The female parent of Donos was the cultivar identified as Russet,disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 5,107. The male parent of Donos was anunnamed seedling, identified as 79121004.

Donos was discovered and selected as one flowering plant within theprogeny of the stated cross by William E. Duffett in November of 1980,in a controlled environment in Salinas, Calif.

The first act of asexual reproduction of Donos was accomplished whenvegetative cuttings were taken from the initial selection in March of1981 in a controlled environment in Salinas, Calif., by techniciansworking under formulations established and supervised by William E.Duffett.

Horticultural examination of controlled flowerings of successiveplantings has shown that the unique combination of characteristics asherein disclosed for Donos are firmly fixed and are retained throughsuccessive generations of asexual reproduction.

Donos has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions.The phenotype may vary significantly with variations in environment suchas temperature, light intensity, and day length.

The following observations, measurements and comparisons describe plantsgrown in Salinas, Calif. and Leamington, Canada, under greenhouseconditions which approximate those generally used in commercialgreenhouse practice.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe basic characteristics of Donos, which, in combination, distinguishthis Chrysanthemum as a new and distinct cutivar:

1. Flat capitulum form.

2. Anemone capitulum type.

3. Yellow-orange ray floret color.

4. Good color retention under high light conditions.

5. Diameter across face of capitulum up to 7 cm at maturity, with adiameter of anemone cushion of 3 to 3.5 cm when grown as a pinched spraypot mum.

6 Uniform eight week photoperiodic flowering response to short days.

7. Medium plant height, requiring 0 to 7 long days after pinch prior toshort days and 1 application of 2500 ppm B-9 SP to attain a floweredplant height of 25 to 35 cm for year-round flowerings when grown as apinched pot mum.

8. Branching pattern is spreading and prolific.

The accompanying photographic drawings show typical inflorescence andleaf characteristics of Donos, with the colors being as nearly true aspossible with illustrations of this type.

Sheet 1 is a color photograph of Donos grown as a pinched spray pot mum.

Sheet 2 is a black and white photograph of three views of theinflorescence of Donos.

Sheet 3 is a black and white photograph showing the upper and undersides of the leaves of Donos at three stages of development (mature,intermediate and immature).

Of the commercial cultivars known to the inventor, the most similar incomparison to Donos is Russet, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 5,107.Reference is made to attached Chart A, which compares certaincharacteristics of Donos to the same characteristics of Russet.

Traits similar to both cultivars are capitulum form and type, branchingpattern, plant height and flowering response. Donos differs from Russetby its yellow-orange ray floret color as opposed to the light yellowcolor of Russet. In addition, the ray floret color of Donos oxidizesvery slowly, and Donos has better color retention than Russet, with theray floret color of Russet oxidizing very rapidly under high lightconditions.

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart. The exact colors for corolla of rayflorets and disc florets are not represented in the R.H.S. Color Chart,and the color values given are those closest to the actual color ofDonos. The color values were determined from plant material grown as apinched spray pot mum in Salinas, Calif. on Mar. 14, 1986.

Classification:

Botanical.--Chrysanthemum morifolium, Ramat., cv. Donos.

Commercial.--Anemone spray pot mum.

INFLORESCENCE

A. Capitulum:

Form.--Flat.

Type.--Anemone.

Diameter across face.--Up to 7 cm at maturity, with diameter of anemonecushion up to 3.5 cm.

B. Corolla of ray florets:

Color (general tonality from a distance of threemeters).--Yellow-orange.

Color (upper surface).--11A to 11B, very slightly tinged with 20A.

Color (under surface).11A to 11B.

Shape.--Flat, oblong.

C. Corolla of disc florets:

Color (mature).--15B to 17A.

Color (immature).--15B to 17A, tinged with 163A to 163B.

Shape.--Elongated, typical anemone.

D. Reproductive organs:

Androecium.--Present in disc florets only; scant pollen.

Gynoecium.--Present in both ray and disc florets.

PLANT

A. General appearance:

Height.--Medium; 25 to 35 cm as a pinched spray pot mum with 0 to 7 longdays after pinch prior to short days and 1 application of 2500 ppm B-9SP.

Branching pattern.--Spreading and prolific.

B. Foliage:

Color (upper surface).--147A.

Color (under surface).--147B.

Shape.--Deeply lobed and slightly serrated.

                  CHART A                                                         ______________________________________                                        COMPARISON OF DONOS AND RUSSET                                                ______________________________________                                                 RAY                                                                           FLORET     CAPITULUM    BRANCHING                                    CULTIVAR COLOR      FORM & TYPE  PATTERN                                      ______________________________________                                        DONOS    YELLOW-    FLAT         SPREADING                                             ORANGE     ANEMONE                                                   RUSSET   LIGHT      FLAT         SPREADING                                             YELLOW     ANEMONE                                                   ______________________________________                                                    DIAMETER                                                                      ACROSS FACE OF PLANT                                              CULTIVAR    CAPITULUM      HEIGHT                                             ______________________________________                                        DONOS       up to 7 cm     MEDIUM                                             RUSSET      up to 9 cm     MEDIUM                                             ______________________________________                                                     FLOWERING                                                                     RESPONSE    COLOR                                                CULTIVAR     PERIOD      RETENTION                                            ______________________________________                                        DONOS        8 WEEK      GOOD                                                 RUSSET       8 WEEK      POOR                                                 ______________________________________                                        COMPARISONS MADE OF PLANTS GROWN AS                                           PINCHED POT MUM IN SALINAS, CALIFORNIA                                    

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct Chrysanthemum plant named Donos, asdescribed and illustrated, and particularly characterized as touniqueness by the combined characteristics of flat capitulum form;anemone capitulum type; yellow-orange ray floret color; good colorretention under high light conditions; diameter across face of capitulumof up to 7 cm at maturity when grown as a pinched spray pot mum with adiameter of anemone cushion of 3 to 3.5 cm; uniform eight weekphotoperiodic flowering response to short days; medium plant height whengrown as a pinched pot mum, and by its spreading and prolific branchingpattern.